Page 4 of Devil's Last Dance

“Well, consider it a memorable one.” She pulled her hand back and shoved it into her pocket. “You don’t have to walk me home. I live about half an hour from here. Not too far.”

“I have my car.”

“Still not getting into it, and I should warn you, I have Mace as well.” She had no idea why she told him that. He could be an attacker, and now she had just warned him.

Again, it was so strange, but she didn’t feel he was dangerous, which was so weird.

“Then, how about we start walking?”

She looked at him in his suit and noticed he wasn’t wearing a jacket to ward off the cold.

“Are you not cold?”

“Nope.”

Candice found that hard to believe, but she wasn’t going to argue with him. If he didn’t want to wear a jacket to keep himself warm, that was on him.

“We’re going this direction,” she said, pointing in front of her.

“Lead the way.”

And so she did, for several steps, and she couldn’t help but steal glances in his direction.

He kept a small distance between them, but he kept pace with her. She was used to walking fast, and she kept moving, not wanting to slow down. He didn’t comment, didn’t complain. Just stayed by her side.

She took a deep breath, expelled it, and then couldn’t help but glance his way again.

“Do you live around here?” she asked.

“Yes.”

He didn’t say anything more and after a brief pause, she nodded.

“The weather is confusing, huh?”

Antwone chuckled. “The weather?”

“You’re not exactly making my life easier. You’re a stranger, and I’m trying to … you know … be friendly and do the right thing, be nice and make conversation.”

“Conversation?”

“Is this a strange concept for you?” she asked.

“Indeed.”

She chuckled. She just couldn’t help it. “You’re a confusing guy, Antwone.”

“Thank you.”

Again, she laughed. Yes, it was weird to have a stranger walking her home, but it was also kind of nice. She felt safe. There weren’t many people on the streets late at night. There were a couple of people, some of them drunk, others just working, or doing whatever they did.

“What do you do?”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

This had to be the strangest conversation she ever had. “You know, for a job. What is your career?”

“Why do you want to know?”

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